Motor vehicle chassis



I C. W. MEGOW MOTOR VEHlCLE CHASSIS July 9, l1940.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed JuneV 13, 1938 I' @QT/ ATTORNEYS July 9, 1940 c. w. MEGow 2,206,970

MOTOR VEHICLE CHASSIS Filed June l5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 9, 1940. c. w. MEGow MOTOR VEHICLE CHASSIS Filed June 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTO RN ELS July 9, 1940.- c. w. MEGow MOTOR VEHICLE CHASSIS Filed June 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l SQ ATTORNEYS Patented July e, 1940 2,206,970

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE CHASSIS Carleton W. Megow, Detroit, Mich., vassigner to Charles F. Megow, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 13, 1938, Serial No. 213,390

5 Claims. (Cl. 28o-112) This invention relates generally to motor veat their outer ends are connected by means of hicles and more particularly to front and rear universal joints I6 to the ends of yintermediate wheel suspension. shafts or axles I1 the outer ends of which are One of the objects of the present invention is connected by universal joints I8 to spindles I9 on 5 to provide a motor vehicle having new and imwhich the front Wheels II are mounted. The proved individual wheel suspension. y frame I3 is suspended at the front Wheels by Another object of the invention is to provide a transversely extending leaf SPringS 20, there bevehicle in which on traveling of the vehicle in a ing a pair of such springs fOr each frl1t Wheel, curve the frame ofthe vehicle is tilted inward arranged t0 PrOvide individual up and dOWn 1'0 of the curve to counteract centrifugal lforce actmovement Of the front WheelS- Preferably, the 10 ing to tilt the frame outward of the curve. Springs 20 are of segmental, elliptic curvature and Another object of the invention is to provide their inner, large 0r butt ends may Seat 0n and new and improved individual wheel suspension be secured to the differential housing I2 by bolts for a front wheel driven vehicle. 22 or by other suitable means. The springs 20 l5 Other objects of the invention will be apparent Curve downwardly and Outwardly from the dif- 1 froml the following detailed description taken in ferential housing I2 toward the Wheels II and the connection with the accompanying drawings outer and relatively small ends of the springs which form a-part of this specification and in are pivotally connected or shackled to brackets which or yokes 23, mounted on hollow steering knuckles Figure 1 is an end view ofthe front running 24 by upper and lower aligned pivot pins 25 The gear of a vehicle as seen looking from rear to Steering knuckles 24, Fig- 2, are adapted t0 Dil/Qt front of the vehicle; relative to theyokes 23 which at their outer ends,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the as at 26, are Provided/With aligning apertures front wheel drive and associated structure shown t0 lOOSely reeeive the plus 25 Which may be in ther 25 partly in elevation and partly in section; form of screws and be screwthreaded into the 25 Fig. 3 is a front end view of the front whee1 spindles. The outer universal joint structures IB- drive and running gear; may include an open ended tubular member 21 Fig. 4 is a plan view of the front end structure splined to the outer ends of the shafts Hand shown in Fig. 3; surrounding the tubular member 21 a sleeve 28 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig, 1 showing mov.. is provided at its outerv end with a spherical 30 able parts of the vehicle substantially in posishaped portion 29 0n WhiCh the Steering knuckles tions they will assume on travel 0f the vehicle 24 are mounted for universal movement thereon. about a curve; In the present construction, a bearing 30 having Fig. 6 is a plan view of the front end construca Spherical Shaped inner bearing surface is pro- 3 tion of the vehicle running gear and showing the vided t0 receive the enlarged Spheriealfshaped 35 movable parts substantially in the position they outer end 20 of the Sleeve 28- The spherical will assume on traveling of the vehicle about a ends 29 of the sleeve 28 extend respectively into curve; the hollow steering knuckles 24, cooperating Fig. 7 is an end view looking from front to rear therewithy t0 hOuSe the Outer universal J'OiIltS I8 of the rear end running gear and associated and Cover Plates 3| .apertured t0v receive the structure, and sleeves 28 may be provided to hold the spherical 40 Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the rear end runbearings 30 in place and may be rigidly secured ning gear shown in Fig. 7. to the steering knuckle by screws or by other Referring to the drawings by characters of suitable means. reference, the present motor vehicle has a front Each of the steering knuckles 24 'is pivotally wheel drive and includes a differential gear mechconnected preferably to the differential housing anism lo through which the vehicle front wheels, l2 by a pair of transversely extending vertically as at II are driven, the differential gear'meeha- SDaCed rOClS 01' StrutS 33 Which are positioned benism I0 being enclosed by a. housing l2 which is tween the pairs of spaced leef springs, as shown rigidly secured to a frame I3 having longitudinal in Fig. 4. 'Ihe differential housing I2 may be 50 side members I3a rigidly connected by cross mem- Provided 0n Opposite Sides 0f the llllsillg DIODeI bers I3b. The dilerential housing l2 is provided with a pair of upper spaced ears 34 having alignwith oppositely extending hollow housing poring apertures to receive a horizontal .pivot pin tions I4 wherein shafts I5, driven through the 35 on which the inner ends of the upper rods'33- differential gear mechanism I0 are journaled and may be pivoted, the outer ends of the upper 55 rods being pivoted, as at 36, to inwardly directed integral lugs 31 of the steering knuckles 24. Similarly, the lower rods 33 are pivotally connected at their inner ends by pins 38 to downwardly directed, spaced integral ears 33 of the differential housing I2 and the outer ends of the lower rods may be pivotally connected by pins 40 to inwardly directed lugs 42 provided on the steering knuckles 24. The lower rods 33 may be bowedupwardly, as shown, to give additional road clearance, if desired. The spacing between the points of the inner ends of each pair of the rods 33 is preferably the same as the spacing between the outer pivot points of the rods, lines through or joining the pivot points of each pair of the rods normally or during travel of the vehicle in a substantially straight path, describing a rectangle. Also the upwardly directed pair of ears 34 have aligning aperture above the pin 35 to receive shafts 44 fixed on and to each of which is pivoted a liner 45, the two levers 45 being pivotally connected and tied together at their lower ends by a transverse connecting rod 46.

Transverse connecting rods 41 have their inner ends connected one to each of the levers 45 by a universal connection, as at 48, and their outer ends are respectively connected by universal connections to the ends of arms 50, integral of the steering kunckles 24, the arms 50, in the present instance, extending rearwardly from the rear axle. The rods 41 together with tie rod 46 connect the wheel steering knuckles for steering movement together while the rods or struts 33 hold the front wheels in alignment with each other. Integral with one of the steering knuckles 24, an arm 52 is connected at its outer end 53 by a universal connection at one end of a rod 54 which may be operatively connected to any suitable well known type of steering gear (not shown).

Fixed to and on each of the shafts 44, irnmediately above the springs 2U are cams 55 which are adapted to engage and flex the springs 20,

Referring now to the rear wheel suspension, shown in Figs. 'l and 8, the frame I3 may include a central casting 56 of general H-shape with the legs 51 of the H extending transverse of the frame and having aligning apertures to receive bolts or shafts 58 which extend longitudinally of the frame and on which supporting members 60 are pivotally supported. A pair of separate, transverse leaf springs 6I are provided for individual spring suspension of the rear wheels and the large or butt ends of the springs are mounted on and may be rigidly secured one to each of the pivoted supports 60 by bolts 62 or by other suitable means. The springs 6| preferably are of elliptic curvature, curving downwardly and outwardly from their inner butt ends, and at their outer ends the springs are pivoted or shackled to inwardly directed ears 63 integral of the rear wheel spindles, as at 64. The rear wheels are held in alignment with each other by separate pairs of transverse rods or struts 65 which are similar to the struts 33 provided for the front whels. The spindles 64 are journaled to rotate in supports or bearing members 66 having integral oppositely extending vertical arms 61 to which the rods 65 are pivotally connected at their outer ends. The rods may branch into inner yoke portions 68 the inner ends of which may be pivotally connected to the legs 58 of the H-shaped casting 56.

A pair of spaced parallel shafts 10 and 1| extending longitudinally of the vehicle above the transverse rear springs 6I, may be journaled in aligning apertures provided in upstanding bosses 12 integral of and positioned adjacent the outer ends of the H-shaped casting legs 58. Rearward of the springs 6I, a depending lever 13 is fixed on each of the shafts 10 and 1I adjacent the rear ends thereof and this pair of levers is connected together adjacent their lower ends by a transverse tie rod 13a which has universal connection, as at 14, with the levers 13. Forward of the rear springs 6I, a lever 15 is fixed adjacent its upper end to the shaft 10 and the lower end of the lever 15 is connected by a universal connection 16 to one end of a transverse rod 11, the other end of the rod 11 having a universal connection, as at 18, with one end of an arm of a lever 8| having a vertical pivot 82 on the frame casting I3. The lever 8| is provided with a second laterally extending arm 83 connected at its outer end by a universal connection 84 to the rod 54 which operatively connects the rear end lever mechanism to the steering mechanism. Fixed to each of the shafts 10 and 1| immediately above the springs are cams 85 which are adapted to flex the springs 6|.

When the herein described vehicle travels about a curve in the road, the turning of the wheels on steering the vehicle about the curve results in the vehicle frame and parts mounted thereon to be tilted inwardly of the curve which counteracts centrifugal force and gives substantially the same effect as is experienced on turning a banked curve. With reference to Figs. l, 5 and 6, assume that, a left hand turn is to be made. When the operator of the Vehicle turns the front wheels II to follow around the curve, the turning of the front wheels II by the steering mechanism, results in the rods 41, Fig. 1 being moved to' the right pivoting levers 45 together in counterclockwise direction. When the levers 45 are pivoted in counterclockwise directions on making a left hand turn, the cam 55 on the left side of the vehicle will be moved out of engagement with the left front spring and the other cam 55 will be moved to flex the right front spring downwardly. Also as the vehicle turns to the left about a curve, the rear right wheel spring 6I will be flexed downward by the cam 85, operated by the levers 15 through the connecting links and rod 54, and pressure on the left rear spring will be released. Since the inner ends of the front and rear springs 20 and 6I, respectively, are pivotally supported and their outer ends are comparatively substantially fixed, the application of pressure by the cams outward of the inner spring pivots tends to flatten the right wheel springs and tilt the frame to the left or inward of the curve. Also on tilting of the frame, the camber of the wheels is changed by the rods or struts 33, the wheels tilting to the left. From the above it will also be seen that on travel of the vehicle to the right about a curve, that the right front and rear wheel springs will be pressed downward and the left wheel springs released whereby the frame and Wheels will tilt to the right or inward of the curve.

Fom the foregoing description, it will now be seen that I have provided a vehicle having new and improved individual wheel suspension. Furthermore, I have provided a vehicle in which its center of gravity is controlled and shiftable on travel of the vehicle about a curve to thereby counteract centrifugal force and consequently improve riding qualities of such vehicles.

What I claim is:

1. In a motor vehicle having a. supporting frame and wheels, separate front and rear transverse spring means supporting said frame andindividually connected to opposite Wheels of the vehicle, said springs each having one end thereof pivoted to the frame and having its other end pivoted to its respective wheel, cam means operable for individually flexing the front springs to tilt the frame, cross members pivotally and individually connecting the frame to the front wheels and operable by and upon tilting of the frame to tilt the front wheels together laterally,

lever means for operating said cam means, rear.. cross members pivotally and individually connecting the rear wheels to the frame and operable to tilt the rear Wheels laterally together by and upon exing of the corresponding rear spring, cam means operable to ex the rear springs individually, and lever means for operating said last-named cam means and operatively connected to said first-named lever means.

2. In a motor vehicle having a frame and wheels, separate transverse front springs pivoted at their inner 'ends to the frame and at their outer ends to respective front wheels, separate transverse rear springs pivoted at their inner ends to the frame and at their outer ends to respective y rear Wheels, said frame being tiltable transversely by flexing of the corresponding front andrear springs, cam means operable to ex corresponding front and rear springs and operatively connected together, pairs of front transverse cross members individually connecting the front Wheels to the frame and operable by and upon tilting of the frame to tilt the wheels transversely, means connecting said pairs of c ross members together for tilting of the front Wheels together, pairs of rear transverse cross membersindividually connecting the rear Wheels to the frame and operable by and upon tilting of the frame to tilt the rear Wheels transversely, means connecting said pairs of rear `cross members together for tilting of the rear wheels together, and means operatively connecting said cam means with the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

3. In a motor vehicle having a frame and wheels, a pair of springs individually suspending said frame from opposite wheels, said springs .being individually iiexible to tilt the frame transversely in a corresponding directionQ-pairs oi' cross v members individually and pivotally connecting together.

4. In a motor vehicle having a frame supported by front and rear `ground engaging wheels, front and rear spring means supporting the frame on the wheels, cam means operable for individually` flexing the front springs to tilt the frame, cross members pivotally and individually connecting the frame to the front Wheels and operable by and upon tilting of the frame to tilt the front wheels together laterally, lever means for operating said cam means, rear cross members pivotally and individually connecting the rear Wheels `to the frame and operable to tilt the rear wheels laterally together by and upon flexing of theA rear spring means, cam means operable to ex the" rear spring means, and lever means for operating said last-named cam means and operatively connected to said first-named lever means.

5. In a motor vehicle, a frame supported on front and rear wheels, separate front springs supporting said frame respectively-on thefront Wheels, separate rear springs supporting said frame on respective rear Wheels, said framebeing tiltable transversely by flexing of corresponding front and rear springs, cam means operable to ex corresponding front and rear springs, pairs of front transverse cross members individually connecting the front wheels to the frame and operable by andupon tilting of thev frame to tilt the front Wheels, means connecting said pairs of cross members together for tilting of the front wheels togetherpairs of rear transverse cross members individually connetcing the rear wheels to said frame and operable by and upon tilting of the frame to tilt the rear Wheels, means connecting said pairs -of rear cross members together for tilting of the rear wheels together, and means operatively connecting said cam means with steering mechanism of the vehicle.

CARLETON W. MEGOW. 

